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Karisma Chapman scores 27, UAB routs UTSA

Middle Tennessee vs UAB Womens Basketball

UAB's Ashley Grimes is shown in action against Middle Tennessee during the first half of a NCAA college basketball game at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)
(MARK ALMOND)

UAB moves to 13-10 overall and 5-5 in Conference USA action, while UTSA falls to 11-12, and 2-8 in league play. Thursday's victory for the Blazers was UAB's first win against a C-USA opponent at Bartow Arena this season.

"It was just a great team effort tonight," said head coach Randy Norton. "A lot of times when you have a lead like that at halftime you are always concerned that your team might come out and be a little sloppy in the second half. I thought we stayed pretty sharp. We were able to rest some players and everyone got an opportunity to play. Overall it was just a great team win."

The Blazers took control of the game early and jumped out to a 12-1 lead in the first five minutes with the help of a couple of three-pointers by Ashley Grimes and Burroughs. UTSA added a couple of 3-pointers to pull within seven, but a 7-1 run by the Blazers stretch the lead to 13.

UAB took its largest lead of 16, 43-27, into the locker room at the half. As a team, the Blazers shot 64.3 percent from the field in the first half, including 50 percent from behind the arc.

The Blazers continued to control the game in the second half, building as much as a 32-point advantage, 72-40, with 8:35 remaining in the game. The team

UAB forced 23 Roadrunner turnovers and held UTSA to just 33.9 percent shooting from the field. The Blazers also outscored UTSA in the paint, 36-22.

In addition to her game-high 27 points, Chapman recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 11 rebounds and also came away with a career-high eight steals on the night. Burroughs finished with a career-high 18 points, all from three-point range, and Grimes added 12 points.

The Blazers' offense really shared the ball well, combining for a season-high 25 assists as seven different players scored in the win. It is the second-straight game that UAB has finished with 20 or more assists. Sophomore Chelsee Black led the team with six, while Chapman and Grimes each had five.

Defensively, sophomore Kayla Anderson continued to be a strong presence under the basket as she put down four blocks for the second consecutive game.

UAB will be back on the road this weekend as it travels to Ruston, La. to take on Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Feb. 15. The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m. CT.